Just four years ago, Cole Prochaska says he carried the weight of “three men.” Today, the 41-year-old proudly says he finally feels like “one person” after losing hundreds of pounds through determination, daily walking, and major lifestyle changes.
Back in 2021, the Florida resident didn’t even know his exact weight. The only thing he knew for certain was that it was higher than 585 pounds—the maximum number his scale could show.
Prochaska admits that his battle with weight started very early. By the age of six, he was already overweight, and over the years his lifestyle became increasingly sedentary, combined with constant overeating.
His daily diet reflected those habits. On a typical day, he could go through several bags of chips and drink a 12-pack of soda. Fast-food trips were no small affair either—he might eat five cheeseburgers at once or finish an entire pizza without thinking twice.
Looking back, he believes he was consuming roughly 5,000 calories every single day.
Despite often appearing cheerful, the reality behind that smile was very different.
“I felt pretty bad,” Prochaska admits. “A lot of big people try to look happy on the outside, but I was actually very lonely. I avoided going places because I worried about fitting into chairs, walking long distances, or even finding clothes to wear.”
Even small physical efforts left him gasping for air, which made the idea of exercise feel overwhelming and nearly impossible.
A Wake-Up Call That Changed Everything
The turning point came during a difficult moment in his personal life. As his seven-year relationship began falling apart, Prochaska was forced to confront the consequences of his lifestyle.
“I realized she had lost respect for me,” he recalls. “I was extremely overweight, I wasn’t doing anything, and my life wasn’t moving in the direction it needed to.”
That painful realization became the catalyst for change.
“I was trying to save the relationship,” he says. “In the end, I didn’t save the relationship—but I saved myself.”
That shift in perspective sparked a powerful transformation.
One Small Step at a Time
Prochaska didn’t begin his journey with strict diets or intense training programs. Instead, he started with something simple: walking.
At first, even a short stroll down the street felt exhausting. Just a couple of blocks were enough to leave him struggling. But he made a promise to himself to keep going, no matter how slow the progress felt.
Little by little, those short walks became longer and easier. What began as a difficult daily effort slowly turned into a routine that laid the foundation for his incredible weight loss.
One principle kept him moving forward: accountability.
“I hold myself accountable. It’s the only way to truly take control of your life,” he wrote in a social media post, explaining how he refused to skip walks—even when the weather was bad.
Consistency became his secret weapon. No matter the circumstances, he committed to reaching at least 10,000 steps every day.
Walking soon became more than just exercise. It represented discipline, determination, and a growing sense of self-respect.
Transforming His Relationship With Food
Exercise was only part of the journey. Prochaska also completely reshaped the way he approached food.
He cut out sugary drinks, chips, sweets, and processed snacks. Soda was replaced with water, and he began carefully monitoring his daily calorie intake.
Instead of relying on high-carb junk food, he switched to a protein-focused diet that helped him maintain energy and build strength as the weight began to drop.
But the biggest change happened in his mindset.
“It all started when I decided this was going to be a real life change,” he explains. As his confidence grew, he eventually added gym workouts to his routine.
The physical improvements were matched by a surge in confidence and motivation.
“I feel amazing now,” he says.
A Stunning Transformation — With New Obstacles
By 2023, Prochaska had achieved something few people thought possible: he had lost around 360 pounds.
The transformation was dramatic, both physically and emotionally.
However, after reaching his goal weight, he faced a new challenge—excess skin left behind after such a massive weight loss.
Although his health had improved dramatically, he admits that showing his body publicly remains difficult.
“I once weighed as much as three men, and now I’m just one,” he wrote on a GoFundMe page created to help fund skin-removal surgery in California. “Sharing shirtless photos is very hard for me, but I’ve come so far.”
The loose skin, he explains, still makes him feel self-conscious.
“My weight goal is achieved, but my life doesn’t feel complete yet,” he wrote. “I still have to tuck excess skin into my pants and wear loose clothes to hide it. I’ve never walked on a beach without a shirt or felt comfortable at pool parties. In a way, I still feel trapped because of it.”
Even so, Prochaska chose to be open about his experience. By sharing photos and speaking honestly about his journey, he hopes to show the full reality of transformation—the victories, the struggles, and everything in between.
